EMI's Samuel Thomas to appear in court today

Kota, Mar 20 (UNI) Kota's Emmanuel Mission International chairman Samuel Thomas would appear in the court today in connection with the case of the controversial book 'Haqeeqat'.

Samuel was put under five-day police remand after he was arrested in Noida last Thursday. Two cases have been lodged against him - one at the Udyog Nagar police station and the other in Bheemganjmandi police station.

The Udyog Nagar Thana complaint has been lodged by Prahlad Pawar of Matantaran Virodhi Manch.

Samuel would be presented in court today in connection with the complaint lodged at Bheemganjmandi police station, whose three-day police remand finshes today.

Meanwhile, the Kota police is busy gathering evidence that the mission was engaged in selling 'Haqeeqat' from its premises. It may be noted that Haqeeqat contains derogatory references against Hindu deities. However Samuel has already admitted that the mission was indeed selling the book.

The police is now trying to establish that EMI's founder MA Thomas, his son Samuel and other officials were behind the translation and publication of the book.

The police is supposed to have found a clue that around Rs 60,000 was paid to its author MA Thomas on Oct 25, 2002 but it is yet to be established that the said money was for authoring 'Haqeeqat'.

It is to be noted that 426 pages book costs Rs 200 and has been translated and edited by Denis Nathniyal and published by ''Truth and Life' of Perambadur in Kerala.

The police has also pasted notice, proclamation of 'absconding' and attachment of property on mission centres, residences of Thomas', EMI hostels, police stations and other public places warning them to surrender before April 19, otherwise their properties would be seized.

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